Belgium's defence minister warns of 'dark winter for Europe' amid rising hybrid threats from Russia

Belgium's defence minister, Theo Francken, warned that Europe faces a 'dark winter' as hybrid threats from Russia increase, speaking at the Euronews Defence and Space Summit, according to a report from The Guardian.

Francken said 'there will be more hybrid threat actions' in the coming months, describing Russia's use of hybrid tactics as a long-running strategy rather than a recent development. He said Russia has built up 'expertise' in this area over many years, which he said often makes it difficult for Western countries to investigate such actions and attribute responsibility.

The minister contrasted Europe's traditional strengths with its current vulnerabilities, saying the continent has invested heavily in social welfare and soft power. 'Europe has been very good in investing in soft power, in social security,' he said, pointing to pension and social welfare systems designed to support citizens in times of illness or job loss.

However, Francken said this focus has left Europe underprepared for confronting war and hybrid threats directly. 'When there's war or there's hybrid threats, we don't have anything,' he said, adding that the continent finds itself 'in a really difficult position.'

The remarks add to a string of warnings from European officials in recent months about the scale and persistence of hybrid activities attributed to Russia, ranging from disinformation to sabotage and cyber operations, as tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine continue.